During angiogenesis, cell adhesion molecules expressed on the endothelial cell surface promote the growth and survival of newly forming vessels. Hence, elucidation of the signaling pathways activated by cell-to-matrix adhesion may assist in the discovery of new targets to be used in antiangiogenic therapy. In proliferating endothelial cells, the single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein CD93 has recently emerged as an important endothelial cell adhesion molecule regulating vascular maturation. In this study, we unveil a signaling pathway triggered by CD93 that regulates actin cytoskeletal dynamics responsible of endothelial cell adhesion. We show that the Src-dependent phosphorylation of CD93 and the adaptor protein Cbl leads to the recruitment of Crk, which works as a downstream integrator in the CD93-mediated signaling. Moreover, confocal microscopy analysis of FRET-based biosensors shows that CD93 drives the coordinated activation of Rac1 and RhoA at the cell edge of spreading cells, thus promoting the establishment of cell polarity and adhesion required for cell motility.

This study presents an innovative approach to the sustainable valorization of industrial sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) waste from the Vignola Region, Italy, transforming what is typically discarded into a high-value bioactive resource. Unlike conventional extractions, our hydroethanolic extract (VCE) was obtained from the entire cherry waste, including the pericarp, pulp, and stone, as generated by industrial processing. This full-fruit extraction strategy represents a novel and efficient use of agricultural by-products, aligning with circular bioeconomy principles. Sweet cherries are known for their phenolic richness, and spectrophotometric assays (TPC, TFC, reducing power, DPPH, and ABTS) confirmed the extract’s antioxidant capacity. In vitro studies using RAW 264.7 macrophages revealed no cytotoxic effects (MTT assay), along with significant anti-inflammatory activity, evidenced by reduced ROS and NO production and downregulation of iNOS and COX-2. Western blotting showed inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and MAPK pathway signaling. Additionally, agarose gel electrophoresis showed protection against oxidative DNA damage. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified sakuranetin, aequinetin, and dihydrowogonin as the most representative compounds in VCE. Molecular docking simulations revealed strong and specific binding affinities of these compounds to NF-κB p65 and key MAPK targets. These findings highlight whole sweet cherry waste—including the pit—as a potent and sustainable source of bioactive compounds with promising nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Beach-cast Posidonia oceanica represents an abundant Mediterranean marine biomass that is commonly perceived as coastal waste, despite its potential value within circular bioeconomy strategies. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of a hydroethanolic extract obtained from beach-cast P. oceanica biomass (POE). The extract was chemically profiled by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS and evaluated through spectrophotometric antioxidant assays, including total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, reducing power, ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging assays. Its ability to protect plasmid DNA from oxidative damage was also assessed. Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by evaluating cell viability, intracellular ROS production, NO release, iNOS and COX-2 expression, NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and MAPK phosphorylation. POE showed measurable phenolic and flavonoid contents, moderate antioxidant capacity and protection against H₂O₂/Fe²⁺-induced plasmid DNA damage. UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed a complex metabolite profile, with 156 annotated compounds distributed across 20 chemical classes. In macrophages, POE was not cytotoxic at 50 and 100 µg/mL and significantly reduced LPS-induced ROS and NO production. These effects were accompanied by decreased iNOS and COX-2 expression, inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and reduced phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK. In addition, POE showed no detectable cytotoxicity in NIH3T3 fibroblasts up to 10 mg/mL and no mutagenic activity in the Ames MPF™ assay using TA98 and TA100 strains, either in the absence or presence of metabolic activation. Overall, this exploratory study suggests that beach-cast P. oceanica retains bioactive properties, although further studies incorporating standardized collection protocols and quantitative chemical characterization will help clarify its potential for sustainable valorisation.